Chapter 42 Sorin
CHAPTER 42
SORIN
“W here are they?” Sorin asked, drumming his fingers impatiently on the table.
“They will be here,” Cassius said from where he leaned against the wall near the door.
“I should have come last night, and we could have just ended this,” Sorin muttered.
“No,” Nuri chimed in from beside him. “We have to play this right, Sorin. You know this. One wrong move and someone dies. We just don’t know who.”
She was right, of course, and now the crown prince had been dragged into this colossal mess.
There was a knock on the tavern door, and his eyes snapped to it. He knew that scent. “You are sure about this?”
Cassius strode to the door. “As sure as we can be.”
He opened the door, and Prince Callan and his two guards came in quickly. They were all in cloaks and hoods, and Sorin had to admit they were disguised fairly well. They each had bags for traveling as they pulled their hoods back.
“You understand what this will entail?” Sorin asked, looking them over.
“If you mean do I understand I am going into hiding, yes,” Callan answered grimly.
“There is so much more than that, Princeling,” Nuri crooned from beside him.
“Nuri dear,” Sorin sighed, “if we are doing this, they get to see your face.”
She reached up and jerked back her hood, that sinister grin perfectly in place on her pale face. All three of them smartly stepped back.
“Come closer, Princeling,” she crooned, “I only bite this one.” She jerked her thumb to Sorin.
“You are truly a…” Callan trailed off and gasped as Nuri let her fangs snap out. His eyes went to Sorin. “And you are truly Fae?”
“I am,” he said as he stood. He had felt Amaré enter the land a few seconds ago. He strode to the window, opening it. A moment later, the phoenix swooped in and came to his shoulder. He dropped a slender piece of black ashwood into his palm. It looked like a stick, but it was anything but a mere stick. There was a flash of flame, and the prince’s two guards stepped protectively in front of Callan.
Ignoring them, Sorin handed the parchment to Amaré, who took it delicately in his beak. “This is critical, my friend. To Cyrus. Do not rest.”
The phoenix was out the window in seconds, and Sorin turned to face the Crown Prince. “While your posse is certainly right to fear me, you can tell them to relax. You are not my enemy this day.”
“But we might be another day?” Callan challenged, and Sorin had to admire the gall of the prince. It was incredibly foolish, but he could appreciate the show of courage.
Nuri clicked her tongue. “You are going to his lands, you know. You should probably work out those trust issues, Prince.”
“I’m sorry, but what is your role in all of this?” Finn asked, rubbing his brows with his thumb and forefinger. He sounded tired. Nuri just laughed.
“Come here, Prince,” Sorin said, motioning Callan to the table. “This is the map we have of the Lairwood Estate. Anything you can add would be greatly appreciated.”
He listened as Callan filled in some gaps. They had nearly the entire layout of the house now, but nothing told them where she was being held. Tava had seen nothing when Veda had taken her to her rooms to look at dresses. Finn had seen nothing once Mikale had taken Scarlett up the stairs.
“So she is likely upstairs? Not down in the cells?” Cassius asked, studying the map. “That’s an interesting move on Mikale’s part.”
“He would expect us to believe her in the cells as a prisoner,” Nuri commented. “It is rather brilliant.”
“Focus on the west wing,” Finn said suddenly. “She specifically said ‘my west room.’ That has to mean something.”
Indeed. According to Cassius, every word she had uttered last night had held a double meaning.
Sorin looked at the clock on the wall. A few more minutes.
“Let’s go over things one more time,” Cassius said, noting Sorin’s glance. He looked exhausted and slightly pale. “Nuri and I took care of the orphans last night. They are moved, and I put wards around them. Nuri and I shall go to them once you are all safe.”
“Once Sorin leaves, we will go with you two to a predetermined location to wait for them,” Callan said. “But how is he getting—”
“Do not worry about him. There is not time to explain everything,” Cassius interrupted him. “These are the things you need to know. One: If he tells you to do something, do not ask questions. Any of you.” Callan and his guards nodded. Cassius hesitated.
“And two,” Nuri said, cutting in, her eyes dancing with wicked glee. “Prepare yourself.” Her eyes went to Sorin. “A prince holds her heart.”
Callan’s jaw tightened with a relief he couldn’t hide, but Sorin said nothing as he straightened a moment before a knock sounded on the door. Drake opened the door, and a female entered the room.
Her red-gold hair curled luxuriously around her shoulders and down her back. An elegant sword was strapped to her back and daggers ran along her leathers. Her smokey gray eyes were bright, and she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face.
“Look at that rarity,” Sorin quipped. When her eyes narrowed in question, he continued, “You rarely smile, General. Were we not crunched for time, I would have a drink to mark the occasion.”
“You’re such an asshole.”
“All I am saying is that Rayner and Cyrus will be upset they missed it,” Sorin said with a shrug and a half grin.
She smirked. “You are lucky I do not have access to my fire here, General .”
“You shall have to settle for shedding mortal blood today, dear Eliza,” he replied as she stepped to his side.
The others were all staring at their exchange, a mixture of shock and fear on their faces. Except for Nuri, of course. A delighted grin filled her face.
Cassius spoke first. “General?”
“I have told you for two years that you are fools for not allowing your women to train and fight alongside you,” Sorin said pointedly.
“Are we ready to do this, Sorin?” Eliza asked, glancing around the room.
“Almost. I need one other thing from you,” Sorin replied. He held out the black ashwood scion and raised his left hand.
Her eyes widened. “Absolutely not.”
“This is not a request, Eliza,” he said quietly.
“There is only one Mark that can adorn that hand, Sorin.”
“I know.”
“Absolutely not,” she said again, ire seeping into her tone.
“This is an order,” Sorin snarled.
“Do not pull rank on me. Not in this,” she bit back.
Sorin’s lip curled up, and he knew flames flickered in his eyes. “You are the only one I would trust to do this, Eliza.” The tip of the scion began glowing red hot as he held it out to her again.
Eliza held his stare for a long, tense moment before she snatched the black ashwood scion from his hand. Her voice dropped to an imperceptible whisper. “You know the risk of that Mark without a companion?”
“I do. It is one I am willing to assume.”
“I do not like this, Sorin,” she said quietly. “Cyrus is going to rip your ass.”
“It is not your call to make, and you will keep your mouth shut about it,” he retorted.
Her brows rose in surprise. “You will keep this from them?”
“For now. Do I have your word?”
“As if I have a choice,” she grumbled as she bent her head and began to work. He held steady at the burning that etched along his skin. No one spoke while she worked, and when she stepped back she said, “Speak the Claiming Rite.”
Sorin spoke in the Old Language, and the Mark on his hand flared bright, then faded to white, disappearing in this land. Eliza turned and faced the rest of the people in the room. He had filled her in last night on the change in plans to now include the prince and his two personal guards.
“Why don’t we get these three to the woods we’ll be traveling through now?” Eliza asked, her face calculating as it always got when she was going over battle strategies and planning.
“Because he will not leave without her,” Sorin answered with a glare at Callan.
“Please explain to me why others are suddenly dictating our plans?” Eliza asked coldly.
“I did not realize I answered to you,” Sorin retorted with a tight smile.
“You don’t,” she conceded, bowing her head slightly. “My apologies.” The last words had a bite that told Sorin he had just pissed the general off in such a way that a conversation would need to be had later.
He took a step towards her, his hands in his pockets. “Eliza, tensions are high. This is crucial. We can have this out once we are home. Right now I need you to—”
“We will certainly have this out when we get home,” she snapped. “I’m going to change. I will meet you there to get you in.”
Eliza turned on her heel and left the tavern room. Sorin sighed heavily in the silence that fell in the room until Nuri’s voice cut through it all. “She was fun. I liked her.”
“Is she…your lover?” Callan asked tentatively from the end of the room.
“No, Prince, she is available,” Sorin returned with a smirk. “Although, I do not think you would be able to handle any part of that female.”
The prince’s cheeks flushed slightly as he bit back, “That is not why I was inquiring, seeing as I am unavailable.”
“Did you miss the memo that Death’s Maiden is now someone else’s?” Nuri asked with a fiendish grin, stepping to Sorin’s side.
“Nuri,” Cassius warned.
“Snack before I go. It will be a while you know,” Sorin said with a wink.
Her fangs slid out once more. “Just remember that when you return, your blood shall be gone from my system and then we shall have some real fun.”
“I look forward to it,” he purred as she brought his wrist to her mouth. Her eyes went to Callan and his guards, and she sank her fangs deep into Sorin’s wrist. While she drank, he grappled for that bridge in his soul. The one that Mark Eliza had inked on him had intensified.
“She really feeds off of you?” Callan asked, his eyes wide.
“Shut up,” Sorin snarled. “I need to find her.”
“We know where she is—” Callan started.
“Hush, Callan,” Tava said, her voice soft and quiet. “Let him concentrate or this is all for naught.”
Sorin closed his eyes.
Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?
Sorrow and grief and unyielding rage.
Hopelessness.
He felt her. All of her.
Tell me where you are.
West wing. In a tower. With no stars.
His eyes snapped open, and Nuri withdrew from his arm, wiping her mouth.
“You were right, Sentry,” he said with a nod to Finn. “She indeed resides in the west wing.” He pointed to a section on the west side of the house where an extra level jutted up into a tower. “Once Eliza has me in, she will meet you all at the beach. Be where you need to be,” he said to Cassius. “Once I have her out, I cannot wait for them if they are not there.”
“Understood,” Cassius replied with a nod.
“What of the shadows that follow her?” Callan asked, as Sorin made to leave the room.
“I suppose a flame lights up the shadows,” Nuri said keenly. Callan’s face paled slightly, the meaning of her words sinking in.
Sorin didn’t say another word as he left the tavern to meet Eliza.